Virtual Talk Series on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Four Principal Commitments: English Panel Five
The virtual talk series on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s four principal commitments is an initiative by the Department of Information and International Relations as part of the celebration of the year 2020 as the ‘Year of Gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’ by the Central Tibetan Administration.
This panel features a talk in English by four speakers; Venerable Tenzin Priyadharshin, President and CEO of The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Deepak Chopra, MD, Founder of the Chopra Foundation, Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha, Joint Secretary and Environment Researcher at Tibet Policy Institute, and Geshe Yeshi Gawa, Co-founder and Director of Tibet Open House, Prague.
Posted by TIBET TV on Thursday, 10 December 2020
Dharamshala: The eighth and final panel of the talk series, featured speakers including Venerable Tenzin Priyadharshi President & CEO, The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Dr Deepak Chopra MD, Founder of the Chopra Foundation; Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha Joint Secretary, and Environment Researcher at Tibet Policy Institute; and Geshe Yeshi Gawa Co-founder and Director of Tibet Open House, Prague.
Venerable Tenzin Priyadharshi President & CEO, The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, shared his understanding of the first commitment-promotion of human values- explaining the necessity to move beyond tribal values for the evolution of human civilization and as individuals.
He added that shared values of kindness, trust and empathy can benefit the society and the world at large and clarified that “human values” does not imply that it is human-centric but includes the entire species.
Citing His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the importance of civic values, he shared, “We may derive the roots that we cherish either from religion, family system, nation boundaries and so on. However, we must actually come to a stage where we are deeply reflective of these values, in a sense that what happens when a value that I as an individual hold dear collides with values of other humans, what is the role of tolerance, of acceptance in those kinds of circumstances. We must deeply reflect on where do values actually come from, how do we learn them, how do we cultivate them. It should not be a matter of belief, it should be a matter of proper reflection whether those values are still relevant, who do they benefit?, and so on.”
He asserted that cultivation of the values are important, to strengthen it, which is challenged by complacency with a baseline level of compassion, kindness and trust which every individual possesses, “We have to recognize that part of the exploration or curiosity around human values has to do with challenging this complacent mindset.”
Dr Deepak Chopra MD, Founder of the Chopra Foundation, spoke about the practice of meditation taught by His Holiness and shared about the foundation’s involvement in collaboration with leading academic and research institutions that reveal meditation’s positive effects from rewiring of the brain, neuroplasticity, activation of genes in body responsible for self regulation, homeostasis and healing, also regulates biological ageing, hormones to chronic diseases, and bring about individual and societal wellbeing.
Drawing from His Holiness’ teachings, Dr Chopra quoted Him on the second commitment of religious harmony, “Despite philosophical differences between them, all major religions have the same potential to create good human beings, it is therefore important for all religions to respect one another and recognize the value of their respective traditions. The idea that there is one truth and one religion is relevant to the individual practitioner. However, with regard to the wider community, there is a need to recognize that human beings observe several religions and several aspects of the truth.” Offering his own perspective, “The truth is one, there are many roads to it and all these different religions are many roads to that truth and that truth is the consciousness or pure being or awareness is fundamental reality.”
Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha Joint Secretary, and Environment Researcher at Tibet Policy Institute, highlighted His Holiness dedicated commitment to environment protection since the 1950s, from calling for tree plantation and wildlife protection in Tibet, putting global spotlight on the ecological importance of Tibetan plateau, to his global appeals for cooperation on climate change, hailing His Holiness as “the earliest and most consistent environmentalist”.
“His Holiness comprehensive proposal in his “Five Point Peace Plan-1987”, at an address to US Congressional Human Rights Caucus, called for creation of Tibet as a zone of peace, and the restoration of Tibet comprising of the three traditional provinces of Amdo, Kham and Utsang to its former state of stability, peace and harmony which further added that Tibet would extend its services to all those who further the cause of world peace and wellbeing of mankind and the natural environment we share,” he said.
Noting the ecological importance of Tibet to the whole of Southeast Asia for its livelihoods, and hence the necessity to restore peace there, the fourth point urges serious efforts to restore the natural environment of Tibet and that China does not use Tibet as a nuclear production and dumping site. The proposal which received international acclaim forced China to end nuclear production and disposal in Tibet, he added.
The Nobel Peace Prize committee had said of their decision to award His Holiness, “The Dalai Lama had developed his philosophy for peace from a great reverence for all things living and upon the concept of universal responsibility, embracing all mankind as well as nature. In the opinion of the committee the Dalai Lama has come forward with constructive and forward looking proposals for the solution of international conflicts, human rights issues and global environment problems.”
He remarked that His Holiness’ appeal for global cooperation on the issue of climate change since the 1980s made him one of the earliest prominent figures to advocate on the issue.
Geshe Yeshi Gawa Co-founder and Director of Tibet Open House, Prague, discussed the fourth commitment, revival of ancient Nalanda tradition. Noting that the crisis of our world today are due to a deficit of moral principle and failure of our education system, he cited His Holiness the Dalai Lama, “Existing educational systems are oriented to material values and materialistic achievements. When we grow up with these learning, we go after power, money, fame. India is the only country which has the ability to combine modern technology and science with ancient Indian knowledge to turn our mind for more compassion and peace. Thus, India can play a special role and make a significant contribution for the whole of humanity and a better world.”
Speaking about His Holiness’ efforts to revive ancient India values and knowledge in the educational curriculum, he said “Under the guidance of His Holiness and with the supportive role of Tibetan monasteries and institutes, we have already started the revival of ancient Indian values in several Indian schools and colleges with notable results in students compassion, warm-heartedness and a sense of responsibility for society. Therefore we have a moral obligation and responsibility to further develop these activities in India and beyond in order to fulfil His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s great vision for all of humanity.”